Chapter 88. Judges 7:1-101Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 4And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 5So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 6And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 8So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 9And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. 10But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: (Judges 7:1‑10). Gideon’s Little Army.
MANY thousand men assembled around Gideon, and they pitched beside the well of Harod. The host of Midian were on the north side of them by the hill, Moreh, in the valley. God wished to teach the Israelites that their soldiers had no power to gain the victory, and that He alone could save them. So He told Gideon He would not deliver the Midianites into their hands for fear they should boast and say: “Mine own hand hath saved me,” but to tell the people that “Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return.” Twenty-two thousand went away. They could not have had much faith in God, nor courage; they were weak, fearful men who would not have helped Gideon against the enemy. One who feels that God is with him is full of courage and can truly say: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Ps. 118:6. The army was small now, only ten thousand men remained. But God told him, the people were yet too many, and that he should bring them down to the water and let them drink, and He would try them there for him.
Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the Lord told him to notice the men who lap the water, like a dog, with their tongues, and set them by themselves, and the men who kneel down to drink, by themselves. Those who lapped the water were three hundred men only; and the Lord said: “By the three hundred men that lapped, will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand; and let all the other people go every man unto his place.”
What a strange way to test people, and what could God mean by it? He wanted to show who was in earnest about this battle, this work they had set themselves to do. Did they love their comfort best? They would take their time and enjoy to the full their blessings. Others had one aim: to win a victory. They would drink in order to have the strength needed, but that was all; they would go on their way. It is true, God does give us “richly all things to enjoy,” but He does not want us to make them our object, but like the apostle Paul may we say: “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Phil. 3:88Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8).
All but the three hundred men went back to their homes, and Gideon and his little band were left on the hillside. Below them, this great host of Midianites as grasshoppers in number. Would Gideon fear? God alone knew and wanted to strengthen him. It was night; Gideon and his men were resting. God spoke to him. saying, “Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand, but if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host; and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened.” Gideon and Phurah went down to the outside of the armed men. The tents of the Midianites and Amalekites covered all the valley, they were very many. The soldiers and their camels like the sand on the sea shore. As Gideon and Phurah approached the camp, they heard some of them talking. One man was telling his dream to his companion. That a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came to a tent and struck it and it fell and the tent was overturned and thrown down. His companion answered: That cake of bread is the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash, for God has delivered Midian and all his host into his hand. When Gideon heard what was said, he rejoiced and thanked and worshipped God. Then he and Phurah went back to the Israelites and said: “Arise for the Lord hath relivered into your hard the host of Midian.”
ML 03/24/1912